Gas burner control system



United States Patent inventor Alfonso Trueba Celaya,

Circuito Novelistas 54, Ciudad Satelite, Edo, Mexico Appi. No. 709,610

Filed March 1, 1968 Patented Sept. 22, 1970 GAS BURNER CONTROL SYSTEM 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 126/39, 43 l/ 13 Int. Cl F24c 3/00 Fieldol'Search 431/13, 14;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,734,257 11/1929 Kraft et al 431/14 3,186,472 6/1965 Caravella 431/13 Primary ExaminerEdward G. Favors Attorney-Semmes and Semmes ABSTRACT: Burner control valve system of the type having a plurality of pilot and individual burner valves, together with visual indicator control lamps.

Patented Sept. 22, 1970 3,529,584

\ v INVENTOR I/Fd/Sfl rpm/54 (14m BY semmesandsemmes ATTORNEYS GAS BURNER CONTROL SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Gas burners in the home are confusing to operate and prone to accident, simply because the housewife does not have a visual warning lamp, signalling whether or not the individual burner valves, the oven valve and the pilot valve have been opened.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior inventors have attempted to overcome this difficulty by providing visual indicator lamps for the pilot and individual burner valves. However, for the most part, these controls have been complex, expensive to manufacture and do not provide for operation of the stove in the event of power failure. Kraft (1,734,257) and Cromie (1,597,403) are typical of inventors who have provided pilot valve indicator lamps. Cromie additionally provides for an automatic shut-off of the stove when the pilot goes out. Meacham (2,055,384) has included a clock mechanism for automatic turn-on and turn-off of the stove at a predesignated time. Sickels (1,912,798) bi-metallic thermobar" cuts off the supply of gas, as the burner flame goes out.

Similarly Kahn (2,014,848) provides for automatic closing of the gas supply conduit upon failure of the pilot. Juneau (2,856,993) provides a warning signal or alarm which is sounded when a leak develops or the burner goes out. Rodbeck (2,735,483) employs an individual igniter for each burner, the pilot kicking On" when ignition occurs. Similarly, Mayer (2,642,132) provides for automatic turn- On and Off of a pod for each burner, as a result of heatng or cooling thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a gas burner control system is provided for the type of stove having a gas supply or feeding conduit and a plurality of individual burner controls and a pilot valve, intersecting the conduit. The control system includes visual indicator lamps for each of the burner valves and the pilot valve, an electrically energized circuit interconnecting the valves and their corresponding indicator lamps, so that upon turning of the burner valve and feeding of gas through the conduit and into the burner, the circuit is closed to illuminate the respective indicator lamps. A gas flow responsive solenoid valve is positioned astride the gas conduit so as to actuate the pilot lamp as gas enters the gas feeding conduit. Manual override means are provided both for turning On" and Off the gas conduit and, also, an emergency switch is provided for de-energizing the pilot notwithstanding gas flow.

In the case of the burner valves the indicator lamp circuit is closed by lateral rotating of individual control knobs, so as to slide a radially extending contact plate between electrical contacts. In the case of the oven control valve, the indicator lamp is actuated by pushing the valve axially inwardly against a contact-closing set of brushes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a stove front, showing individual burners, control valves and indicator lamps;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan, partially in section, showing an individualbumer valve in gas shunting position with its contact plate 72, interconnecting the electrical contacts 74 and 76 to energize the respective indicator lamp;

FIG. 3 is a like fragmentary view of the oven control valve opened to shunt gas and close the electrical contacts by axial inward pushing of the shaft plate 82 against the contacting brush 80; and

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram, showing the wiring of indicator lamps with the individual burner control, pilot and oven control valves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, stove is indicated as comprising burner top 20, control panel 22 and vertically upstanding rear indicator panel lamp 24. Individual burners l2, l4, l6 and 18 are controlled respectively by burner control knobs 38, 40, 44 and 46. An oven control knob 42 is also presented on front panel 22. Individual indicator lamps 26, 28, 32 and 34 are provided for burners l2, l4, l6 and 18, respectively. Indicator lamp 30 is provided for oven control knob 42 and pilot indicator 36 may be turned On and Off by means of control switch 58.

In FIGI I an entirecircuit is illustrated as being set within housing 10 and energized by means of a.c. plug 50, leads60 and 62 to transformer 56. In turn, leads 86 and 88 proceed from the output side of the transformer to indicator lamp energization lines and 92. Burner gas is fed through input 52, controlled by pilot input valve 48 in bypass 64 prior to entry into gas feeding conduit 66. Gas responsive solenoid 54 when switch 58 is in On position closes the pilot valve indicator lamp 36 circuit to designate gas flow. Alternatively, pilot valve indicator lamp 36 may be de-activated by throwing switch 58 to Off or open position and operating the stove independently of electrical energization by turning valve 48.

By-pass valve 48 and by-pass conduit 64 serve as an auxiliary, so that in case of failure of electric current the valve cock may be opened manually to allow passage of gas, permitting stove operation which does not give rise to any danger.

When the electric current fails, the visual pilots areextinguished without giving any indication, but at the instant when the electric current is restored it will cause the visual pilots 36, 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 to give an indication as to whether the stove is operating. Since gas is flaring, there will be no danger at all and the solenoid valve 54 will begin to function and should proceed to close the by-pass so that pilot 36 and solenoid valve 54 may function. This action of solenoid 54 is completely independent of the pilots.

Safety measure No. 1: On many occasions, children of one or two years of age or persons who are not familiar with the operation of stoves, may, without realizing the danger, open the cocks of the stoves and allow gas to escape, and, when a match is lighted close to the burners, an explosion or flare-up of the accumulated gas may occur, which may cause serious danger. In such cases, when the visual pilot 36 is not burning and the lever of switch 58 is lowered (opened), the solenoids do not operate, and consequently gas does not pass to the stove although the valves 38, 40, 42, 44, and 46 may be opened. These valves control the visual pilots 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 thereby indicating which cocks of the burners are open. This measure gives greater safety to the housewifeand she will be able to realize the condition of the stove when she begins to use it and will proceed to close the cocks of the stove before using it.

Safety measure No. 2: When the housewife intends to use the stove, she must close the lever of switch 58, and the visual pilot 36 will light, which will indicate that gas is passing to the stove and that the gas burner pilots which are located near the grills should light up. She can be sure by this operation that the stove is lighted and that there is no danger of the escape of gas, and the stove will begin to operate in the same manner, that is, when any cock is opened, the visual pilots of the burners will indicate which burner is on, thus indicating whether or not the gas is burning.

Safety measure No. 3: When the housewife is absent, she should leave the lever of switch 58 down (open), which will prevent the passage of gas, and there will-then be no danger of the gas escaping although children may open cocks 38, 40, 42, 44, and 46.

Each individual burner valve includes axial shaft 78 connected to key 68, having an aperture 70. Key 68 may be connected to the gas burner knob control plates by means of set screws (not illustrated). As the individual control knobs 38, 40, 44 and 46 are rotated laterally, radially positioned plate 72 slides into position with electrical contacts 74 and 76, connected respectively to input wires 90 and 92, thereby closing the circuit of the respective indicator lamp. in HO. 1 valve 44 is shown in gas flow or shunt position, wherein the electrical contact is closed by plate 72, burner control knob 46 remaining in gas closed position and plate 72 being presented out of contact with the indicator lamp circuit.

Oven control knob 42 may be mounted upon a similar shaft 78 connected to identical key 68. The oven control indicator lamp 30 circuit is closed by pushing knob 42 inwardly in the attitude illustrated in H0. 3 so as to close plate 82 against brushes 80, thereby activating indicator lamp 30.

The individual burner control and pilot valve lamps, as well as the oven control lamp may be color coded to assist the housewife in identification as to which burner is open. By covering the individual indicator lamps with glass plate, an additional measure of protection from heat and humidity is provided. The juxtaposition of manual valve 48 and solenoid 54, uniquely provides for manual operation of the system notwithstanding power failure.

Manifestly, the knob contacting plates and the indicator lamp circuit may be varied without departing from the spirit of invention.

' lclaim:

1. In a gas burner stove of the type having a gas feeding conduit connected to a plurality of burners and individual burner control valves and a pilot valve intersecting said conduit, a burner control system comprising:

a. visual indicator lamps for each said burner valve and said pilot valve;

b. an electronically energized circuit interconnecting said valves and their corresponding indicator lamps, so that upon opening of any one of said valves to admit gas through said conduit, said circuit is closed to illuminate the respective indicator lamp;

c. a gas flow responsive solenoid valve interconnecting said conduit and said electrically energized circuit so as to energize said pilot valve indicator lamp, as gas enters said gas feeding conduit; and

d. a manual override switch for de-ene rgizing said pilot indicator lamp independently of gas flow.

2. A gas burner control system as in claim 1:

e. a by-pass conduit interconnecting said gas feeding conduit on opposite sides of said solenoid valve, so as to permit gas feeding in said conduit independently of said solenoid valve and electrical energization.

3. A gas burner control system as in claim 2, each said burner valve including:

i. a rotatable shaft;

ii. a key connected to said shaft and engaging said conduit to shunt gas to its respective burner; and

iii. a pair of contacts closeable in said electrically energizable circuit, as said shaft and key are turned to shunt gas.

4. A gas burner control system as in claim 3, said electrically energizable circuit being of the a.c. type and including transformer means interconnecting a source of a.c. and said indicator lamps.

5. A gas burner control system as in claim 4, including:

f. an oven control valve and indicator lamp having contact plates engageable to close said electrically energizable circuit with said indicator lamp, as said shaft is pushed axially inwardly.

6. A gas burner control system as in claim 5, respective burner valve shafts, including:

i. knob exposed on the front of said gas burner stove and a vertical contact plate radially presented with respect to said shaft, so as to close said electronically energizable circuit as said knob and shaft are rotated to shunt gas.

7. A gas burner control system as in claim 5, said oven control valve being of the brush-plate contact type.

8. A gas burner control system as in claim 7, said burner valves and said oven control valve intersecting said gas feeding conduit in aligned series, so as to permit simultaneous shunting of gas to all burners and said oven, together with simultaneous energization of all indicator lamps. 

